Based on new information from Chicago police about evidence in the case, the “hate crime” attack reported by actor Jussie Smollett was likely a hoax. The black homosexual “Empire” actor claimed assailants in MAGA hats beat him, tied a noose around his neck, and doused him with bleach, allegedly while yelling, “This is MAGA country, ni**er!” and calling him “Empire faggot!” But, as it turns out, it seems Smollett hired two Nigerians to play the part of Donald Trump-loving rednecks. Time to get someone from Central Casting on the line.

Through a statement from his attorneys, Smollett doubled down: “As a victim of a hate crime who has cooperated with the police investigation, Jussie Smollett is angered and devastated by recent reports that the perpetrators are individuals he is familiar with. He has now been further victimized by claims attributed to these alleged perpetrators that Jussie played a role in his own attack. Nothing is further from the truth and anyone claiming otherwise is lying.” He had previously complained that people wouldn’t doubt his story if he “had said it was a Muslim or a Mexican.”

But new evidence indicates Smollett was angry after a racist letter sent to the show’s studio (a charade he allegedly also perpetrated) didn’t get a “bigger reaction,” so he is suspected of paying the two Nigerians to “attack” him a week later. There are also reports that Smollett scouted the location of the attack and rehearsed it.

One would think the Leftmedia might exercise a modicum of skepticism in the wake of incidents like the Covington Catholic phony narrative. But no.

The New York Times, ABC News, MSNBC, PBS, Los Angeles Times, and other Leftmedia propagandists all “reported” on the attack as if it were verified fact with nothing more than Smollett’s claims to back it up. GQ magazine even declared, “The racist, homophobic attack on Jussie Smollett is far-right America’s endgame.” So now all conservatives are to blame.

It wasn’t just irresponsible news outlets with a “progressive” ax to grind, either. Multiple Democrat politicians — including members of the 2020 presidential field — unquestioningly took Smollett’s story as gospel truth. Cory Booker insisted, “The vicious attack on Jussie Smollett was an attempted modern-day lynching.” Kamala Harris likewise chimed in, “This was an attempted modern day lynching. No one should have to fear for their life because of their sexuality or color of their skin. We must confront this hate.” Nancy Pelosi lectured, “The racist, homophobic attack on [Jussie Smollett] is an affront to our humanity.” And Joe Biden wasn’t to be left out: “What happened … to Jussie Smollett must never be tolerated in this country.”

A day later, Booker decided, “I’m gonna withhold until all the information actually comes out from on-the-record sources.” Now he tells us.

Smollett’s desperate plea for attention, as Mark Alexander notes, “is likely the result of his gender dysphoric pathology and perhaps indicative of childhood trauma.” For sure, it fit neatly within the Left’s hate narrative about the Right and confirms preexisting bias, which stems from a history of misinformation from the media.

Smollett was not the victim of a hate crime; he perpetrated one.

Wilfred Reilly, political science professor at Kentucky State University, is author of Hate Crime Hoax — How the Left Is Selling a Fake Race War. Reilly notes, “Virtually all of the high profile widely-reported hate crimes over the last two years have been hoaxes. … A broader motivation for these hoaxes is that the demand for bigots in America greatly exceeds the supply.” (We have compiled a list of other notable hate-crime hoaxes.)

Bottom line: There are hateful people of every color out there. But hate-crime hoaxes undermine the concern we should all share for real victims.

(Updated)

Update Feb. 21: Smollett turned himself in to Chicago police this morning on felony charges of filing a false police report.